Dare to Believe: Teen & Young Adult Epic Fantasy Bundle (Series Bundle Andy Smithson Bk 4, 5 & 6): Dragons, Serpents, Unicorns, Pegasus, Pixies, Trolls, Dwarfs, Knights and More!

by L. R. W. Lee

  That night, Andy stared at the ceiling of his chamber and allowed his thoughts to battle between angst at losing Mom, Father, and Mermin when the curse broke and disgust that Razen would be accompanying them.

  “Why’s Razen have to join us? I don’t get it. He’s a traitor and yet he gets to help break the curse? He comes in at the last minute after Alden, Hannah, and I have done all the hard work…”

  “Are you done?” MiniMe interrupted.

  “No. It’s not right.”

  “You realize it’s not your father or Razen saying he’s to join you. Your gripe is with the sender of the letter.”

  Andy opened his mouth to retort, but his inneru took advantage of the brief pause, adding, “Chances are, Razen won’t be excited about joining us. He much prefers the castle to some cross-country adventure. You’ve seen him when there’s trouble afoot. He’s not sure of himself.”

  Andy considered this. “But doesn’t whoever keeps sending these letters know he’s a traitor?”

  MiniMe chuckled. “I don’t know if I’d quite say that, but I think they know exactly what’s going on. Have you considered that you may be the one lacking understanding? It’s always puzzled you how your father trusts the man implicitly. Perhaps the sender and your father share the same thinking about Razen.”

  Andy couldn’t argue with MiniMe’s logic, and he harrumphed.

  “Have you considered that having him along may be a test of your leadership?”

  “My leadership? What do you mean?”

  “No doubt you won’t like every one of your subjects, yet you will still need to lead them. Perhaps you should look at this as an opportunity to learn how to lead even the difficult ones.”

  Andy considered this but wasn’t ready to concede. His mind pivoted back to thoughts of losing those he loved. He tossed and turned for most of the night.

  Mid-afternoon the following day, Father, Mom, Mermin, Alden, Hannah, Andy, and Regent Bellum sat around Regent Cronkar’s cozy office discussing plans for the trip. Last time he was here, Andy had been so focused on rescuing Father, he hadn’t noticed the maps of Oomaldee papering the walls. Now he surveyed numerous shelves lined with well-worn books, most of them about battle strategy. Another marked-up map lay open across a table near the man’s fastidiously kept desk.

  “Majesty, please understand, Regent Cronkar and I are very concerned about your safety,” Bellum began. “My men reported to me this morning that Abaddon has put a price on your heads—five hundred lars for you, my King, and the same for you, my queen. Prince Andrew, the price on your head is six hundred lars.”

  “Why more for me?”

  “They know you helped free the King,” Cronkar explained, then added, “We don’t need to tell you that’s enough to live quite comfortably the rest of one’s days.”

  Everyone nodded.

  Regent Bellum raised his hand. “Abaddon’s promising protection. Whoever rats you out, they and their family will not be turned into vulture-folk. As if he can be trusted to keep his word.”

  “And if they’re already turned?” Andy asked.

  “If they’re already turned, they’ll be given safe haven from the war that is upon us,” Bellum said.

  “We’re concerned Abaddon and his goons will spot you in your travels,” Regent Cronkar explained. “We propose sending three doppelgangers to divert attention from your company.”

  “What’s a doppelganger?” Andy questioned.

  “It’s like a decoy,” Mom intoned. “They want to send lookalike groups out so Abaddon and his troops don’t know which company is the real one.”

  “Those who volunteer may be signing up to be transformed into vulture-people,” the King groused. While Father’s mood had improved since the previous day, it didn’t take much to trigger a relapse.

  “Yes, but we see no alternative.” Cronkar nodded, causing the sovereign to slump his shoulders.

  Bellum strode to the map spread out on the table, and everyone circled around. “We want to send one group through the most mountainous route.” He ran his finger across the map, outlining a path heading southeast from Castle Ferrin. “They’ll go through the gnomes’ territory, but instead of going to Mount Mur Eyah, they’ll head into Cromlech and on to the Giant’s Ring.”

  Having navigated some of that territory on his trip to find Yara, Andy didn’t envy them.

  “Another group will go this way, to Carta.” The man traced a route north around Castle Avalon, past the Forest of Giants, then south through troll and pixie territory, and passing the Resolute Watchtower at the end of the Great Wall that protected northern and eastern Oomaldee.

  “Lots of mountains on that route, too.” Andy remembered huffing and puffing up steep slopes in search of unicorns.

  “They’ll be close to my old home,” Alden murmured, crossing his arms and holding his shoulders. “Abaddon made a mess of it.”

  Hannah bit her lip.

  “Yet another reason why this deception must work,” the regent acknowledged. Turning back to the map he continued, “The third doppelganger we’ll send to Mount Hope, this way.” Bellum again traced the path—north to Castle Avalon, toward the Forest of Giants, across the Slither River following the foot of the Great Wall, circling around and finally reaching their destination.

  “What route do you propose we take?” Mom questioned.

  “You all are going north to Castle Avalon, over these bridges…” His finger ran across the Entente Bridge and turned south over Amicus Bridge, skirting dwarf and ogre territory, then veered east, finally ending up at Mount Mur Eyah.

  Mom nodded.

  Andy raised his hand.

  “Yes, Prince Andrew,” Cronkar acknowledged.

  “We know that for anyone who has been turned, their inneru is frozen and they’ll broadcast everything they see to the whisper stream. With Razen along, Abaddon’s not going to be fooled by our attempt at deception.”

  “A fair point, my prince. I brought up the same objection, but the King has—”

  “Everything will be fine even though Razen has been turned,” Father asserted.

  “How can you say that?” Andy objected.

  Father locked eyes, leaving no room for objection. What’s up with that? Mom put a hand on Andy’s shoulder.

  “I detest putting others in danger to break the curse I caused,” the King growled, “but it appears it is necessary once more.” Father shook his head and made eye contact with Andy, Alden, and Hannah. “I’m sorry. I never wanted to put you at risk.” He absently rubbed his side where Hans had implanted a Stone of Athanasia. “After all this time, I’m still learning how little I really control.” His shoulders slumped and he grimaced.

  “The role of Razen will be played by someone who has not been turned. We’ll disguise that person to look like him,” Bellum offered. “Zolt are not the brightest. They’ll have to look awfully close to detect the decoys.”

  But we still have Razen in our group. That’s no solution.

  “There is one other small matter,” Cronkar continued. “Alden, you’ll need to dye your hair.”

  “But why?”

  “The longer we can keep Abaddon from knowing who’s in your company the better. Optimally, he’ll never know the royal family is out and about. Exposed.” He cleared his throat, taking an opportunity to again make his objections known. “There aren’t many folks in these parts with neon-green hair.” He paused, and a smile crept across Alden’s face. “His minions know you travel with the prince. They know you’ve worked together on behalf of the King in the past. I don’t want to give them any clues Prince Andrew is present.”

  Alden leaned forward with dancing eyes. “I’m guessing my new color won’t be aqua?”

  The regent frowned.

  “Didn’t think so. I’ll call it my undercover look,” Alden jested in a wispy voice. Turning serious, he added, “I’ll do whatever you need me to.”

  “Thank you, Alden,” the King affirmed.

 
“Are we agreed on the plan then?” Cronkar asked.

  “Who’s going to be in our patrol?” Andy asked.

  “That’s not the simplest question, my prince,” Bellum replied. “Every group needs soldiers who look nearly the same. Our task is to find three more of each of you, which is what we will begin doing tomorrow. Care to help?”

  A grin broke out across Andy’s face.

  Alden and Hannah burst forth, “Yes!”

  CHAPTER TEN

  Doppelgangers

  Cronkar and Bellum had counted on the King accepting their proposal, and had already dispatched Captain Ladilas, along with Sergeants Albin, Hammond, and Rosser, to scour the land for citizens resembling the royal family and their escort. The regents swore each man to secrecy and charged them to ensure each candidate participated in the King’s business of their own free will.

  So the next morning, when Andy, Alden, and Hannah met Regent Cronkar in a meeting room on the second floor of the tower keep, the three still wore grins. The notion that there might be citizens who looked similar to them got them thinking about alternate worlds and the adventures they could have. Would their alternate selves know each other? Like each other, even? Would they enjoy doing the same things? Their minds—well, mainly Andy’s mind—took the idea and ran with it, and his friends hadn’t objected in the least.

  “This process may take a few days,” Cronkar informed. “We’re still working to find more candidates. But we can at least see those they’ve found so far.”

  The trio settled in and the first “Hannah” entered. The girl measured nearly Hannah’s height, and her porcelain skin marked her as Oomish. But her caramel locks betrayed the impersonation.

  “She’s close, but not close enough,” Hannah acknowledged after the girl exited. The others agreed.

  “Not to worry. We have more possibilities,” Cronkar assured.

  A proposed Alden imposter filed in next. His bronze skin told of work outdoors, but his ebony locks made it hard to envision him looking like their Cartesian friend.

  “Would you mind covering your hair with your hands?” the regent requested. “Alden, you do the same.”

  “Yes! I can see him as you.” Andy clapped and Hannah gave her blessing.

  “What’s your name?” Cronkar requested.

  “Brockton.”

  A soberness settled over the group, and reality hit Andy. Each doppelganger is a person whose loved ones will feel pain if anything happens to them.

  “Well, Brockton, I agree with them,” Regent Cronkar opined.

  “Thank you, sir. I count it an honor to serve the King.”

  Sergeant Albin brought in duplicates for every company member. Some they kept, others they dismissed. The assessment proved more challenging than they anticipated.

  Late in the afternoon, a fourth Hannah lookalike appeared. The instant this girl walked over the threshold, Andy gasped. “Yara?” His eyes grew wide.

  Hannah and Alden’s jaws dropped.

  The girl drew back. “No, sorry. My name is Daralis.”

  Andy shook his head, trying to push back the surge of emotions that threatened to breach the dam of control he’d worked to build over that part of his soul.

  “She’ll…she’ll be a good fit,” Hannah stammered.

  Daralis curtsied but furrowed her brow. “I’m glad I can be of service to the King.”

  “I apologize. You look a lot like a friend of ours who died recently,” Alden offered.

  “I’m so sorry for your loss.”

  “Thank you,” Andy choked.

  Sergeant Albin showed her out.

  The trio took deep breaths and Regent Cronkar asked, “You okay to go on?”

  They all nodded and Alden commented, “We just weren’t expecting that.”

  The regent gave them a knowing look and motioned Sergeant Albin to bring in the next candidate.

  Three days later, Andy went to meet his lookalikes—Caldwell, Judson, and Mendell—in the courtyard. The regent encouraged all the company members to spend time with their counterparts, instructing them as to their secrets and “peculiarities.” Andy’s fingers and toes tingled. He would be divulging his closest held secrets to complete strangers so they could be convincing should they meet with trouble as they wandered the land. He didn’t doubt the payoff. He’d do anything to protect these brave souls. But he’d only ever been this vulnerable with Yara.

  The minute Andy’s twins saw him they took a knee and bowed.

  Andy cleared his throat. “Please rise.”

  The three snapped to attention and Andy knew he wasn’t alone with his nerves. A half smile played on Andy’s lips. “I’m not going to kid you, I’m a little nervous telling you all about myself.”

  Caldwell mustered up his courage to say, “But you’re the prince.”

  “That’s probably the first thing you need to know about me. Whether I’m nervous or not, I try to hide it.”

  Caldwell nodded, Judson’s shoulders relaxed, and Mendell let out a breath.

  Movement on the other side of the courtyard drew Andy’s attention. Yara. Andy’s pulse quickened. No. Daralis. Four Hannahs sat down in the grass. Andy chided himself and returned his focus to his own doppelgangers.

  “Thank you for volunteering for this mission. We couldn’t do this without you.”

  Caldwell puffed out his chest.

  “Yes. You should feel proud at being selected. You’ve no idea the number of candidates we interviewed. Since we’re going to be here for a while, let’s all have a seat and get comfortable.”

  The three ricocheted looks.

  “It’s fine. Really. Please.”

  Andy’s lookalikes slowly joined him in the grass.

  “You’re probably going to learn more about me than you ever wanted to.” Andy forced a laugh. “But before I dive into my story, I’d like to get to know you. Would each of you tell me a little about yourself?”

  Judson’s eyes grew wide. Mendell looked to the ground. Caldwell’s eyes ping-ponged between his comrades.

  “You want to know us?” Judson questioned.

  “You’re pretending to be me, and that could put you in harm’s way. I definitely want to know you. ” Andy set his jaw.

  The three cocked their heads, clearly questioning preconceived notions.

  “Then…I guess I’ll go first,” Caldwell began. “I’m from Oops. My family lives on the west side, over the bridge.” From his excursions with Alden, Andy knew the area. It was rough. Only those unable to afford living elsewhere called it home. “Abaddon’s patrols have been intimidating everyone in sight. Even though everybody tries to steer clear of them, my brother, Roldan, ran into one on his way home from work at the cobbler’s shop not long ago.” Caldwell bit his lip.

  Andy’s stomach twisted, afraid to hear the tale he knew was coming.

  “I guess the patrol saw an opportunity to make an example of him, because witnesses said they beat him up pretty bad. Then they tortured him. They turned him into a bird-man one part at a time, laughing as they did. When they finished doing that, they turned him into black stone, also one part at a time. Friends told me he tried to be brave, but halfway through his screams sounded like a wounded animal. By the end, he’d messed himself and was crying like a baby. Once they left, my neighbors grabbed what was left of him and hid it. When I saw him, I threw up. Both my mama and papa are beside themselves with grief. My sister can’t stop crying.”

  Caldwell swiped at tears he’d fought to hide.

  Andy drew a hand to his chest and bowed his head. “Caldwell…I’m so sorry.”

  Mendell stared at the ground.

  “So when Sergeant Albin offered me this opportunity,” Caldwell continued, “I saw it as a way to get back at them for a little of what they did to Roldan.”

  Judson clenched his jaw. “Don’t be sorry, my prince. It’s the way of things these days. Abaddon’s transformed virtually everybody in Oohhh where I’m from. And every once in a while, just li
ke with Caldwell, he makes an example of one of my neighbors to keep everybody scared. And it’s working. My neighbors got turned. They took me and my family in for fear it would happen to us, too. Everybody’s banding together against the enemy. They’ve hidden us up in their hay loft for way too long. We’re afraid to come out except to hunt food and draw water, because Abaddon’s patrols have been dragging folks right out of their homes and turning them. If they find you, you’ll be turned. No exceptions. But I decided I’m sick of hiding. When Sergeant Hammond found me filling canteens at the stream the other day, I jumped at the chance to help. I’m ready to stand up and fight!”

  Andy guessed Judson to be about his age. I can’t imagine going through that.

  Mendell sighed. “My father’s afraid. I understand. But he’s allowed his fear to change him. He used to be someone who would stand up to a bully. He’d fight for the underdog. But he’s seen so much go on for so long that he’s given up hope. My family went into hiding a month ago. He despairs and mopes around all day. He’s abandoned his faith that we’ll ever defeat Abaddon.”

  Andy shifted.

  Mendell continued, “Recently, I saw Abaddon dragging the King through the City of Oops. He thinks doing so will cause us to lose heart. He succeeded with my father, but not me. The King had been battered and bruised, but he held his head high. They prodded him like a stupid cow. He stumbled and they beat him. They kicked him until he balled up like a baby, but he refused to show weakness and give them the satisfaction they craved. I will be like him. My father argued when I told him I was going to do this, but I think he respects me for it.”

  Andy nodded and swallowed hard. Father hadn’t revealed all Abaddon’s goons had put him through. The story brought everything close to home.

  “Thank you for sharing. I know it wasn’t easy. You’ve all been through a lot.” Andy’s heart hurt for each of them, yet he found inspiration. “Let me tell you my story.”

  The three leaned in and listened attentively as Andy shared details of battles he’d had with his nemesis over the last several years, stories about his friendship with Alden and Hannah, his heartache over losing Yara at Abaddon’s hands.